a blog about perfume

Bvlgari Opera Prima ~ new fragrance

Bvlgari celebrates its 130th anniversary with Opera Prima, a new limited edition fragrance and collector bottle.

The Opera Prima, an elegant chypre essence with radiant and feminine notes, is a unique collaboration between two masters of Italian craftsmanship: Bvlgari and Venini. The sculptural bottle, created by the master glassmakers, evokes the ancient Roman amphora which held precious stones, spices and floral essences. Dazzling in its vivid combination of colours, and embellished with approximately 250 carats of citrine, more than 25 carats of diamonds and over 4.45 carats of amethyst cleverly set in yellow gold, the bottle features a sheet of gold that is melted between different layers of glass. The fragrance, created by master perfumer Daniela Andrier, recalls the essences of the Mediterranean with its notes of citron, lemon and orange flower.

I think it’s gorgeous too, although it does seem like a lot of disparate ideas mashed up together: it reminds me of the bottles for Tocade and White Diamonds and Femme and the urns that Carons come in, among other things. But still, I like.

News to me that Romans stored jewels in amphorae! But still, that’s a beautiful shape for a bottle, and the juice doesn’t sound half bad either. Not that I’m going to get the opportunity to either test or buy…

Coming in at twice that price is Guerlain’s Le Secret de la Reine – although this will only be available for purchase and will not be present at the show. The perfume is held in a bee-shaped vial that can be worn as a brooch or pendant. The crystal is set with 14 carats of diamonds and more than 500 hours of work went into drawing, cutting, polishing, setting and assembling the Dh2 million piece. Pressing the diamond atomiser that adorns the bee’s chest opens its wings, releasing its fragrance.